ONE Women’s Atomweight Champion Angela Lee wants to inspire young girls to compete in martial arts.
At just 20 years old, Lee is undefeated with eights wins and is a world champion.
Last month, she successfully defended her title for the second time when she submitted Istela Nunes.
Lee recently said in an interview with NBC that she hopes her success inspires other women to try MMA.
“Mixed martial arts is not just about fighting and stepping inside the cage. It’s about developing yourself and learning about yourself,” Lee said. “Even if it’s just to get fit, or to get healthy, or for self-defense. I think the first step is to try it out. Don’t be scared to try.”
With her success, and the success of other women in the world of MMA, Lee sees a bright future for the sport when it comes to women.
“When I first started my fighting as an amateur, there were still a few critics saying women shouldn’t be fighting, this and that,” Lee said. “Just in these two years, it’s really been amazing to see the mindset change for people, and how they’re looking at these women who are stepping into the cage, especially here in Asia. We definitely get a lot more respect now. We’ve come a long way, and I’m excited for all the progress that is still to come.”
